U of R vs. Vassar

Should I go to University of Rochester or Vassar College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if U of R or Vassar is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Rochester vs. Vassar College comparison
University of Rochester Vassar College College 3 College 4
University of Rochester Vassar College
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Overview

U of R Vassar
Location Rochester, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 12,160 2,456
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #56 #46
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rochester.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

U of R Vassar
Tuition (In State) $63,150 $66,870
Tuition (Out of State) $63,150 $66,870
Room & Board $18,924 $17,415
Avg Net Price $40,900 $29,733
Avg Grant Aid $41,700 $53,840
% Receiving Grant Aid 74% 58%

Admission

U of R Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,680 12,145
Admitted 7,773 2,153
Acceptance Rate 35.9% 17.7%
Enrolled % 19.9% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 31/34 33/35
SAT Range 1400/1540 1435/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

U of R Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

U of R Vassar
Graduation Rate 83% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $71,000 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $253 $163

Diversity

U of R Vassar
% Men 21% 0%
% Women 24% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 59%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 18% 7%
% Unknown Race 7% 0%

Students

U of R Vassar
% In-State 25% 28%
% Out-of-State 44% 64%

Campus

U of R Vassar
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Rochester is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (12,160 students vs. 2,456 students)

U of R vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of R or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 5.9% more expensive to attend than U of R for in-state tuition ($66,870.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at Vassar than University of Rochester ($66,870.00 vs. $63,150.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than U of R ($29,733 vs. $40,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 8.7% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($17,415 vs. $18,924)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Rochester than Vassar College (74% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 29.1% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($53,840 vs. $41,700)

U of R vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of R or Vassar? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vassar or U of R .

  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (35.9%) than Vassar (17.7%)

U of R vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, U of R or Vassar? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Vassar and U of R.

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than University of Rochester (91% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn on average $12,600 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($71,000 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $8,720 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($15,780 vs. $24,500)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($163 vs. $253)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/